While the BSE Sensex, the country’s equity benchmark, and gold prices rose 68% and 70%, respectively, since 2010, the price of one carat of high quality solitaire has doubled during the same period to around Rs4 lakh from close to Rs2 lakh, that too without any wild swings. And there is the added advantage of being able to flaunt them.

A solitaire is priced anywhere between Rs75 lakh to Rs 20,000,depending on its weight and other parameters. There are some 123 factors that diamond sellers follow around the world. The major ones that determine the price of a diamond are its colour, clarity, cut and carat. A flawless diamond with a certificate from an international lab is considered the best quality. This last point is the most important. You will find a lot of cheaper stones with local certificates.

If you sell an old solitaire, with a certificate of authenticity from an international lab, jewellers across the country offer 90% of its prevailing market price.